scholarly journals Non-traumatic spinal cord injury: what is the ideal setting for rehabilitation?

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter W New

Objective: To survey rehabilitation physicians about management of patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI). Methods: Postal and email survey of Australian physicians treating adult inpatients in neurological rehabilitation or Spinal Injury Units (SIUs). 59/69 returned surveys met inclusion criteria. 75% (44) of respondents were from neurological rehabilitation units (response rate 72%) and 25% (15) were from SIUs (response rate 94%). Outcomes were: incidence of NTSCI, opinion regarding ideal setting for NTSCI inpatient rehabilitation, and availability of key services for NTSCI patients in neurological rehabilitation units. Results: Estimated incidence of NTSCI was 26/million adults/year. 60% of NTSCI patients were managed in general neurological rehabilitation units. The majority of respondents (85% (50/59); 95% CI, 73%?92%) believed that the most appropriate setting for NTSCI rehabilitation was either an SIU or a neurological team that specialises in NTSCI patients. Neurological rehabilitation units offered NTSCI patients the following services: education regarding coping with NTSCI and preventing complications (55% [18/33]); specialised wheelchair and seating prescription (85% [28/33]); Environmental Control Unit training (36% [12/33]); and bladder training (97% [32/33]). Conclusions: The most appropriate setting for rehabilitation of NTSCI patients is either a dedicated SIU or a neurological rehabilitation team that specialises in NTSCI. The organisation of inpatient rehabilitation services for NTSCI patients in Australia should be improved.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Charlotte Y. Adegeest ◽  
Jort A. N. van Gent ◽  
Janneke M. Stolwijk-Swüste ◽  
Marcel W. M. Post ◽  
William P. Vandertop ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE Secondary health conditions (SHCs) are long-term complications that frequently occur due to traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) and can negatively affect quality of life in this patient population. This study provides an overview of the associations between the severity and level of injury and the occurrence of SHCs in tSCI. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Embase that retrieved 44 studies on the influence of severity and/or level of injury on the occurrence of SHCs in the subacute and chronic phase of tSCI (from 3 months after trauma). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. RESULTS In the majority of studies, patients with motor-complete tSCI (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] Impairment Scale [AIS] grade A or B) had a significantly increased occurrence of SHCs in comparison to patients with motor-incomplete tSCI (AIS grade C or D), such as respiratory and urogenital complications, musculoskeletal disorders, pressure ulcers, and autonomic dysreflexia. In contrast, an increased prevalence of pain was seen in patients with motor-incomplete injuries. In addition, higher rates of pulmonary infections, spasticity, and autonomic dysreflexia were observed in patients with tetraplegia. Patients with paraplegia more commonly suffered from hypertension, venous thromboembolism, and pain. CONCLUSIONS This review suggests that patients with a motor-complete tSCI have an increased risk of developing SHCs during the subacute and chronic stage of tSCI in comparison with patients with motor-incomplete tSCI. Future studies should examine whether systematic monitoring during rehabilitation and the subacute and chronic phase in patients with motor-complete tSCI could lead to early detection and potential prevention of SHCs in this population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Seelig ◽  
Raban Arved Heller ◽  
Patrick Haubruck ◽  
Qian Sun ◽  
Jochen Georg Klingenberg ◽  
...  

Graphical AbstractThe pathophysiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) can be divided into two major phases. (A) The mechanical trauma is followed within minutes by a secondary phase consisting of local complex and intertwined acute responses, intercellular signaling and cell activity regulating pathways. Inflammatory processes, oxidative stress and hypoxia, leading to cell damage and death, and specific cell contents are released into the circulation (B). The motor and sensory deficits upon TSCI are assessed by using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS), ranging from AIS A as a complete absence of any motor and sensory functions under the lesion site, to AIS E with complete preservation of motor and sensory functions. (C) The concentrations of serum SELENBP1 were elevated in patients classified as AIS A as compared to less severely affected patients classified as AIS B, C or D. A cut-off was deduced [(SELENBP1) > 30.2 μg/L], reliably predicting whether a patient belongs to the group showing neurological recovery (G1) or not (G0) within 3 months after the trauma. The figure was created by using https://biorender.com.


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